Floating-lap ladder



- P. PlRscH May zo, 1930.

FLOATING LAP LADDER Filed oct. 24, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 1 GQQU May. 20, 1930.

P. PlRsH FLOAIING LAP LADDER Filed Oct. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR. @au @mc/i MJJQMZVM TTORNEY,

`Paamial May 2o, 1930 unire' ares AfrEN'Iifossiel?.i

Pisana Pinson, or Kmosnn, weisconsist,l nssrenon To PETER riesen AND sons Co.,

OF KENOSHAfWSCONSN, .El FIR-M.' COMIPQSED OF AND CEILA rrnsoirnvnn :PETER Pinson, w. n. Pinson,

FLOATING'LAP LADDER Application filed October 24, 1928. Serial No. 314,659.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in floating lap ladders.

lt is the primary `object `of lthe present invention to provide an 4extension ladder which can be'eixtended to double its 'normallength, the extension portion being arranged so as to be extended, with respect to the base ladder, its entire lengthand docs not, when so extended, overlap :the .base ladder.

A further object of the invention is to provide an V'extension ladder formed with a floating lap for supporting the extension section, the floating lap being loose and lodging ycompletely within the ladder sections whereby the' normal length of the ladder is not increased. Y

A further object yof the invention is to provide a yfloating' lap laddervof .the class described which .saves `storage. and carrying space, facilitatesthe carrying ofthe same on trucks and lire apparatus, `and requires less lumber in building than other ladders of an equal length.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide an extension ladder of the class described which islapless and in which the floating section for supporting the extension section isnot a. ladder section and which Ais practically.disappearing when the entire ladder is in non-extended position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a floating lap ladder which is strong and durable, is easily operated, is of very simple construction, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth. Y

Withtheabove the rother objects in view the invention consists of the improved float ing lap-ladder and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all o f the views:

Fig. l is a front view A of the improved floating lap ladder with the parts uneXtended Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;`

Fig. 3 is va Vfragmentary front view of the ladder with the extension section totally eX- tended, portions being broken away and shown in section;

.is an angular-ly shaped-bracket 18 Whicli.em

`the base kladder stiles is limited iby the in Fig. e is an Venlarged detail sectional view, partly broken, taken on lined-.ffl of F ig. Vl.;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view showing one of the pivotal dog members ofthe extension section engaged L. with a rung `of the base ladder;

Fig, 6 is a similar View showing Athe dog member disengaged;v and F ig. 7 is an enlarged cross-.sectional wiew taken on line y7-17 of Fig. l. Y

Referringnow more .particularly to the drawings, it will appear that Ithe numeral l0 indicates a base ladder setion formed of a pair of elongated `parallel stiles l1 with spaced :rungs l2 extended therebetween.4 The extension ladder section 13 is of a Width to fit within thestiles ofthe base ladder section and ,is similarly formedof a pair of elongated parallel stiles 14 connected by spaced transverse rungs 1,5.

ln korder to permit the complete extension of the extension section of the ladder a pair of iioating lap members y16 `are provided. Each floating lapmember comprises a pair off opposite metallicchannels 17, as shownin Fig. 7, vand said channels are `of afsubstan* tial length,.as shown in Figs. 1,2and 3. Se.- cured to the lower lport-ion of each channel llli() braces on three sides and is slidable on-the adjacent stile 11 ofthe base ladder section.

Said floating lap members are A.slidably mounted, as described, on .the upper end portions of the baseiladder stiles, while the stiles of the extension ladder section are slidable within the metallic channels 117.: The base ladder stiles carry pairs ofespaced angled brackets 19 embracing the channels and formzing guides and supports therefor.

Vhen the Vextension section is to be raised 9D it will first'slide within the channels or with `the channels onthe stiles 11, depending onthe Vfriction between the parts.

The ultimate extension of said channels lwith :respect yto engagement of the brackets 118 on the channels with -theflowermost brackets 19 on the stiles 11. `In this position the :floating 'lapsrare projected beyond the upperendportions of the base ladder about half their lengths. When the extension section stiles slide within the channels, lugs 20 on said stiles ultimately engage enlarged rims 21 at the upper end of said channels, and thus when the extension of the channels is stopped, the extension ofthe extension ladder section with respect thereto is limited, the position of greatest extension of the parts being shown in Fig. 3 and in this position the extension section is extended substantially its entire length and is braced and supported by the floating lap members.

The lower end portion of the extension ladder section carries a revoluble transverse rod 22 on which are secured fast a pair of depending locking dogs 28 which are movable into and out of engagement with any of the rungs 12 to support the extension section in any extended position. Said dogs are movable against the tension of coiled springs 24 con nected to the stiles 14 and which tend to hold the dogs normally out of rung engaging position.

ForV convenience in raising and lowering the extension section and operating the dogs 23, an elongated rope 25 is provided which is secured at one end to a lever 26 formed on a member 27 secured fast on an intermediate portion of the revolnble rod 22. Said rope is extended around a lower rung 12 of the base ladder and over a pulley 28 mounted at the upper end portion ofthe base ladder, and is connected at its other end portion to the medial portion of a bar 29 secured between the lower end portions of the stiles 14 of the extension ladder 13, it being noted that said bar extends through the open portions 30 of the dogs 23 and limits their pivotal movement in both directions. Thus, when the rope is pulled in one direction, the extension section will be raised and the springs 24 pulling on the dogs 23 will keep the same from engaging the rungs 12. When the extension section is at the desired height, a downward pull on the forward portion of the rope will cause the dogs to be rearwardly pivotally moved against the tension of the springs 24, permitting the dogs to be releasably engaged with a rung 12, as in Fig. 5, to support the extension section in a desired raised position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the improved floating lap ladder is of simple and novel construction, and is well adapted for the purpose set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. An extension ladder, comprising a base ladder section, a lap member slidably mounted on the upper end portion thereof, and an extension ladder section slidable within said lap member and extensible longitudinally of the base ladder section its entire length, and forming an uninterrupted climbing continuation of the base ladder section.

2. An extension ladder, comprising a base ladder section formed of a pair of parallel Stiles with spaced rungs connecting the same, an extension ladder section formed of a pair of parallel stiles with spaced rungs connecting the same, the extension ladder section being longitudinally movable within the stiles of the base ladder section, a channel member slidably mounted on each stile of the extension ladder section, guide brackets carried by said channel members and slidably engaging the stiles of the base ladder section, bracket members carried by the Stiles of the base ladder section and engaging said channel members, the guide brackets and the bracket members forming means for limiting the extension of said channel members with respect to the base ladder section stiles, and means for limiting the extension of the extension ladder section with respect to said channel members, said extension ladder section being extensible longitudinally of the base ladder section its entire length and forming an uninterrupted climbable, direct continuation ot the base ladder section.

3. A device for effecting the complete extension of one ladder section with respect to an adjacent ladder section, comprising a main ladder section, an extension ladder section, and a floating member slidably mounted on one ol` said ladder sections and slidably embracing the other ladder section, the extension ladder section being movable in and with the floating member so that its entire length is extended with respect to the main ladder section and forming in a position oft extension a direct, uninterrupted climbable continuation of the main ladder section.

In testimony whereof, I alrix my signature.

PETER PIR-SCH. 

